Early struggles gave way to an unforgettable finish.
Pete Crow-Armstrong was not, in the middle of the year in 2026, the frontrunner for National League MVP. After an All-Star 2025, the Chicago Cubs outfielder had underperformed during the first half of the season, Shohei Ohtani still being very much in the picture. June altered the landscape to the benefit of Crow-Armstrong, who then found his rhythm and started to collect a season few could challenge.
Power and speed soon became his most formidable assets. He wrapped up with 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases, becoming the first 40-40 player since Ohtani in 2024, and a vast improvement to his plate discipline helped drive his surge, as he posted a .280/.372/.570 slash line on the season.
His contribution transcended the batter's box. Crow-Armstrong patrolled the outfield with the range and instincts that made him one of the best defenders in baseball. Another Gold Glove and a Platinum Glove joined his other individual awards.
One advanced metric showcased the magnitude of his lead. His 10.6 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement was the most in MLB, with Bobby Witt Jr. next at 7.0. That 3.6-win differential was the largest between the first two players since Mickey Mantle finished ahead of Duke Snider in 1956.
Additional production put him at the top of several offensive leaderboards. He led the MLB in total bases (357), extra-base hits (84), and runs scored (119). By the end of the year, his combination of hitting, baserunning, and defense resulted in a unanimous National League MVP vote.